5160

A

Alberta Ed

Joined
Jun 29, 1999
Messages
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I see (belatedly:o) that Buck is now offering a variety of blades (110, 112, 119) in 5160 high carbon -- reputedly a very tough steel. Has anyone had any experience with any of these?
 
I use this one quite a bit.
Very easy to maintain and I like the patina.
I'm no steel expert. I personally like using this a lot.

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5160 has fairly low carbon, around .5% or so. It is not in the same category as 1095, around 1 to 1.2% carbon. It is a good, tough steel, more suited to swords and machetes, I believe. Not that it is terrible steel, by any means.

Now, if Buck were to come out with a 1095V (50100b) knife I would do whatever it took to get one.
 
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5160 is just on the lower limit of being high carbon steel, with its 0.6% carbon by weight. High carbon steel is 0.6% and up. 5160 should be a good steel for rough use, however Buck had some fairly interesting issues with some 5160 blades breaking in a pretty unexpected fashion. This was a while back, and I've not heard of any issues recently.
 
Thanks, all. May be heading through Post Falls in the near future. A tour of the Buck plant is high on my bucket list. Chuck Buck autographed my 110 (420HC) when he was in Calgary in 2007 for the opening of the BassPro outlet here. I subsequently picked up a BassPro 110 in CPM154. Now, what to choose, what to choose... maybe a Woodsman?
 
Ed, I bought one of the limited edition Buck 118 Personal's in 5160 steel but have never used it (bought it for the brass, it's engraved with SN #4). I will pull it out and butcher a deer with it just to see how it performs. I used a 420HC Buck 118 on last week's deer and it lost it's keen edge before I was done - my 440C Buck 118 keeps it's edge through several deer. I'm sure there could be other factors as well (maybe I didn't have the 420HC version as sharp as I keep the 440C version, etc.) OH
 
I have noticed the same. They loose their keen edge quick. DM
 
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DocT said:
5160 has fairly low carbon, around .05% or so. It is not in the same category as 1095, around .1 to .12% carbon. It is a good, tough steel, more suited to swords and machetes, I believe. Not that it is terrible steel, by any means.

Now, if Buck were to come out with a 1095V (50100b) knife I would do whatever it took to get one.
Click to expand...

I'm whispering move the decimal right one place. DM
 
5160 makes a great axe head, but it's pretty decent for a larger knife that might take some impacts. on folders i'm not so sure you get the best of what it can deliver. still like the steel regardless though.

i haven't noticed working edges failing quickly, but that initial keen sharp edge does fade real fast, course i find 420hc suffers from this as well.
 
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